time religion. He will tell you that your sin is not all that bad. He will tell you that if everyone else is doing it, it must be alright for you to do it. Satan will also whisper and tell you that the Lord does not hear you when you pray. He will tell you that the Lord no longer performs miracles. Miracles are a thing of the past, he will tell you. I want to tell you even as I speak that the devil is a deceiver and a liar! I want to say it loud enough so that every demon commissioned by ole Lucifer, himself can hear it. THE DEVIL IS A LIAR! C. Satan Uses DISCOURAGEMENT to Change Your Focus. (V. 3B., 4) As Absalom continued his lies, he told them that there was “no man deputed of the king to hear thee.” Satan enjoys using negatives to discourage the True King’s subjects. He will tell the preacher that his sermons are no longer relevant to his listeners. He will tell the Sunday school teacher that she is not academically qualified to teach. He will tell you that either you are too young are that you are too old to serve God. He enjoys telling someone who is praying for a lost loved one that it is too late for that person to be saved… Satan wants the choir singer to think that his or her voice is not good enough. He wants the young person to think that God cannot find you a proper mate. He will tell you that no one in the Church cares anything about you. He will tell you that God will not forgive you of your sin. I am witnessing to a person right now who is at the point of death who has been my friend for nearly thirty years that thinks that he is too evil to be saved. These are some of the ways that Satan uses to get your eyes off of the True King. This is the reason that Hebrews tells us when we take our eyes off of Him and we become discouraged to “lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” (Hebrews 12:12, 13). Then we are told to look diligently “unto Jesus” (Vv. 13, 14).

II. HE TRIES TO CHALLENGE YOUR FAITH. (Vv. 5, 6) Faith is substance (Hebrews 11:1). As Christians we cannot properly operate without faith. For with faith we are told that it is impossible to please God. Satan knows this and will attempt to get us operating outside the realm of faith. He is good at this, for he has had much practice. He does this by getting us to question the Word of God. A. By Causing You to CONSIDER Which Will Then Cause You to Stagger. (V. 5) Satan tries to lure you into his trap while causing you to consider his way verses the Way of the True King. After he spoke lies to the subjects of his father King David, he would put forth his hand and took the hand of the one who was offering him obeisance, and would kiss him. This was a way of gaining the favor and the acceptance of those who approached him. Satan will do whatever it takes to lure you to the point of considering